Nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means useful in an irradiated fuel reprocessing system

ABSTRACT

Nuclear Fuel Rod Bundle Handling Means Useful in an Irradiated Fuel Reprocessing System is disclosed. The nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means has a plurality of rollers for supporting a fuel bundle, a fixed clamp member extending from the plurality of rollers, a movable clamp member substantially parallel to the fixed clamp member and extending from the plurality of rollers, means to move the movable clamp member and means to remove components from the fuel bundle. The clamp members serve to hold a fuel bundle therebetween.

[75] inventor: Wyvil R. Kendall, Berkley, Mich. Attorney, Agent, or Firmlvor 1. James, Jr.; Sam E. [73] Assignee: General Electric Company, San Laumsamuel Jose, Calif.

[22] Filed: Mar. 21, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT [211 App]. No.: 343,297

d Us A D Nuclear Fuel Rod Bundle Handling Means Useful in I Relate pp an Irradiated Fuel Reprocessing System is disclosed. DlVISlOn Of SCI. NOS. 715,602, March 25, 1968, Pat. The nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means has a plu- No. 3,621,742, and Ser. No. 86,092, Nov. 2, I970, ality of rollers for supporting a fuel bundle, a fixed 3827579 clamp member extending from the plurality of rollers, [52 U.S.Cl. 29/200 D, 51/5, 83/925 R ammbe Clamp membersubstafmial'y [51] Int. Cl 823p 19/00, B24b 7/00 fixed clamp member and extendmg from the Pluramy [581 Field of Search 29/200 D, 200 B, 200 R, of means the movable Clamp member 29/400 83/925 51/5 B and means to remove components from the fuel bundle. The clamp members serve to hold a fuel bundle [56] References Cited therebetween- UNITED STATES PATENTS p0 3.293.734 l2/l966 Buckley 29/200 D 3 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures 5737 n [55 L W I. l I? lllll llllllllllllllllllll l.

l f Q 4 V BEL i NUCLEAR FUEL ROD BUNDLE HANDLING MEANS USEFUL IN AN IRRADXATED FUEL REPROCESSING SYSTEM Dec. 24, 1974 3,621,742 ll/l97l Kendall 83/925 R X Primary Examiner-Thomas H. Eager PATH-NED BEBM 3,8 55 684 sum 0101- 15 Fig.1

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NIXILEAR FUEL ROD BUNDLE HANDLING MEANS USEFUL IN AN IRRADIATED FUEL REPROCESSING SYSTEM CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a division of application Ser. No. 715,602,

' filed Mar. 25, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,62l,742, and

application Ser. No. 86,092, filed Nov. 2, 1970, now US. Pat. No. 3,827,579.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Nuclear steam generating plants, utilizing heat produced by nuclear fission reactions in a nuclear reactor are now well known. In a typical nuclear reactor, fissionable fuel material, such as U including a suitable proportion of U235, is encased in long tubes of corrosion resistant cladding material, such as stainless steel or zirconium alloy. The ends of the tubular clad members orrods are sealed with end plugs or caps. A plurality of these fuel rods are secured in a fixed parallel arrangement by means of spacers at several locations along the bundle length. The bundle is supported by tie plates at each end. Typical fuel bundles are described in detaiiin US. Pat. No. 3,350,275, for example.

A plurality of these fuel bundles together with necessary controls, moderators, reflectors, etc., are arranged in a reactor to make up the reactor core. The fuel bundles are arranged so that a controlled chain nuclear fission reaction may be maintained, producing large quantities of heat. This heat is removed by a coolant which is used to transfer the energy to a load, such as a turbine, where useful work is performed.

As the nuclear reaction proceeds the fissionable material is gradually consumed and the quantity of fission products in the fuel increases until there is insufficient reactivity in the fuel to economically support the nuclear reaction. Then the fuel bundles are removed from the reactor and replaced by other bundles containing fresh fuel. Typically, the irradiated fuel contains valuable amounts of U-235, U-238, Pu-239, Np-237 and others "which may be separated from other fission products, for reuse as fuel. for example. Chemical reprocessing systems with which the system of the present invention may be used effectively include those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,359,078 and 3,222,124. To accomplish this recovery, the irradiated fuel must first be mechanically prepared for subsequent chemical processing.

To permit the solvent to contact the fuel, the cladding around the fuel must be opened. In the past, the entire fuel bundle was cut up by means of a very large shear into small pieces, which were dropped into a dissolver. This shear had to be very large and powerful to cut through tie rods, tie plates, spacers, etc. in addition to cutting through a large number of fuel rods at a single stroke. Since irradiated fuel is highly radioactive, the fuel bundles must be remotely handled. Repair and replacement of worn parts, such as shear blades in the large shearing devices is difficult. Remote handling of irradiated fuel bundles is difficult and has in the past required very complex equipment.

Thus, there is a continuing need for simpler, more re liable and more economical systems for preparing irragiated fuei bundles for chemical reprocessing of the uel.

It is an object of this invention to provide a nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means useful in an irradiated fuel reprocessing system having a plurality of rollers for supporting a fuel bundle, a fixed clamp member ex tending from the plurality of rollers, a movable clamp member substantially parallel to the fixed clamp member and extending from the plurality of rollers, means to move the movable clamp member and means to remove components from the fuel bundle.

The above objects and others are accomplished in accordance with this inventionv by a system which includes a remotely operated means for disassembling spent nuclear fuel rod bundles and for shearing the fuel rods into small pieces suitable for chemical fuel reprocessing operations. The fuel bundles are first clamped on a clamp table and the fuel rod end securing means are removed. A fuel rod pulling head pulls individual fuel rods or groups of fuel rods from the bundle. A holding table collects the desired number of fuel rods, then directs them to a shear feed means. The shear feed means feeds groups of fuel rods incrementally into a double-blade shear. The shear simultaneously cuts two small pieces from the end of each fuel rod in the group. The cut pieces fall into a container for chemical reprocessing of the fuel.

Thefuel rod bundle disassembly and shearing system can handle a wide variety of fuel rod and bundle configurations. This assembly is easily remotely operated, disassembled, modified or repaired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Details of the invention will be further understood upon reference to the drawing, which show a preferred embodiment of the system of this invention, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of the entire fuel disassembly, handling and shearing system;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the fuel bundle clamping table;

FIG. 3 shows the fuel bundle clamping table in elevation;

FIG. 4 shows the right end of the fuel bundle clamping table as shown in FIG. 3, but with the backing plate removed for clarity;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of the fuel rod pulling assembly;

FIG. 6 shows the assembly of FIG. 5 in elevation;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along section line 77 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along section line 8-8 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along section line 9-9 inFlG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the fuel rod handling and shear feed assembly;

FIG. 11 is an elevation of the assembly shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along section line 12-12 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along section line 13--13 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along I section line 14-44 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is an elevation of the fuel rod shear taken across the fuel rod axis;

FIG. 16 is an eievatiun of the fuei rod shear taken along the fuel rod axis; and

. 3 FIG. 17 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line 17-17 in FIG. 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Fuel Rod Reprocessing System rods are stored in an area schematically indicated at 10.

From storage area 10, the bundles are carried by a conventional crane (not shown) to a nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means in the form of a clamp table 11. The bundle is positioned on clamp table 11 and held by movable clamp means 12, which engages the bundle shroud, spacers, etc. but leaves the fuel rods free to move longitudinally. Fuel rod end securing means, including end plates, lifting handles, tie rods, etc. are removed by conventional remote manipulation. Typical of the many conventional remote manipulators which may be used in conjunction with the various assemblies of this invention are those described in US. Pat. Nos. 2,978,] l8 and 2,632,574. An abrasive saw may also be provided to cut end plates from the fuel bundle, if nec essary, within removable hoods 13. After the bundle end fittings are removed, hoods 13 are lifted away.

The bundle is positioned on clamp table 11 in alignment with a nuclear fuel rod bundle disassembly means in the form of a rod pulling assembly. A rod pulling head 14 is mounted on a movable carriage 15 which may be moved along guide rails 16 and 17 to engage fuel rods in a bundle on clamp table 11. Pulling head 14 may be raised and lowered and moved transversely by means described below.

After rod pulling head 14 grasps one or more fuel rods, it is moved back, pulling the rods from the bundle and depositing them onto rollers on receiving table 18.

The fuel rods are transferred to a holding means in the form of a holding table 19. When the desired number have accumulated, a pusher 20 pushes them into a feed means in the form of a shear feed assembly generally designated 21. Shear feed assembly 21 has a cover 22 secured by a plurality of clamps 23. A pusher within shear feed assembly 21 incrementally feeds fuel rods into a shear means in the form of a shear 24. Shear 24 includes a hydraulic cylinder 25 which drives a doublebladed shear to cut two pieces simultaneously from the end of each fuel rod. These pieces drop into a container wherein chemical fuel reprocessing is begun.

This combination of cooperating devices permits the remote disassembly, handling and shearing of highly radioactive irradiated fuel rods. Details of the various sub-assemblies making up this system and of the operation of this system will become further apparent upon reference to the following figures, which detail the various sub-assemblies.

FUEL BUNDLE CLAMPlNG TABLE The table upon which the irradiated fuel bundle is clamped for disassembly is shown in detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. The table has been shortened and many support braces have been eliminated for clarity.

attached to post 36, drives pivotable frame 37 which is attached to post 36 and to support plate 34 by pins 39 and 40, respectively. Frame 37 is pivotable about these pins to permit actuating cylinder 35 to move movable clamp bars 12. Pins 39 and 40, and all of the other pivot-pins described below, are of the remotely operable, ball-detent type. This permits the clamp table to be substantially disassembled for repair, modification, etc., by remote manipulators. Pivotable frame 37 is supported during movement by a wheel 41 which rides on support member 42.

In order to maintainmovable clamp bars 12 parallel to fixed clamp bars 30, a plurality of guide frames 43 are provided. Only one guide frame 43 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, although generally two or more would be used. Guide frames 43 are generally similar to frame 37. Guide frame 43 is pivotably attached to post 44 by removable pins 45 and .to support plate 34 by removable pins 46. Guide frame 43 is supported by wheel 47 riding on support member 48.

A conventional roller conveyor, consisting of a plurality of rollers 49 joumaled in frame 50, is provided to support a fuel bundle (schematically indicated by broken lines 51 in FIG. 4) during clamping and removal of fuel rod end securing means.

Irradiated fuel bundles are stored in a water filled compartment after removal from a reactor. A conventional crane (not shown) lifts a fuel bundle by one end and brings it to the clamping table. The lower end of the bundle is lowered into tilting bucket 52 which is rotatable around pivot pins 53. Bucket 52 is mounted on support 54, which is maintained in alignment with the clamping table by suitable braces, some of which are shown at 55.

As the crane swings the fuel bundle down onto rollers 49, bucket 52 tilts up, maintaining the fuel bundle is proper alignment. The fuel bundle is then moved along the rollers until the end comes out of bucket 52 and is positioned above first trough 56. Actuating cylinder 35 is then actuated to tightly clamp the fuel bundle between movable clamp bars .12 and fixed clamp bars 30.

Hood 13 which is adjacent first trough 56 is then lifted by a conventional crane (not shown) connecting to lugs and lowered over first trough 56 with one side in contact with first backing plate 57. Backing plate 57 is generally U-shaped, with the opening in alignment with the roller conveyor. Backing plate 57 serves to tie the ends of fixed clamp bars 30, upstanding wall 33, and trough 56 together while providing a guide and side support for hood 13. Hood 13 has openings through which a conventional remote manipulator may remove the fuel rod end securing means. In addition, hood l3 encloses a remote-manipulator held abrasive saw (not shown) which may be remotely operated to cut of the end of the fuel bundle to release the fuel rods. A water spray system may also be included within hood 13 to wash away any highly radioactive dust produced. The water with entrained dust will be drained away to a suitable storage area.

After the fuel rod end securing means is removed, the bundle is unclamped by actuating cylinder 35 and is moved along rollers 49 until the other end of the bundle is over second trough 58. The fuel bundle is again clamped in position and the other hood 13 is lowered over the fuel bundle end guiding against second backing plate 59. The second fuel rod end securing means is removed as discussed above. With some fuel bundle designs only the end fitting nearest the pulling head need be removed to release the fuel rods.

The view of the clamping table 11 shown in FIG. 4 is taken from the right end of the table as seen in FIG. 3, with backing plate 59 removed for clarity. Backing plate 59 here is substantially rectangular in configuration, with an opening in alignment with rollers 49 through which the end of the fuel bundle passes. A

drain tray 60 is provided below rollers 49 to remove any water and radioactive dust which falls through rollers 49. A water spray system (not shown) is desirably included to wash down the apparatus when desired.

After the second fuel rod end securing means is removed, the fuel bundle is ready to have individual or groups of fuel rods pulled from the bundle. The bundle is securely held in place by movable clamp bars 12 and fixed clamp bars 30 which bear only against bundle spacers, shroud, etc.. and leave the rods free to move longitudinally.

As can be seen, the clamping table described above is highly effective and can be easily remotely operated, repaired and modified as necessary. Movable clamp bars 12, guide frame 43, hydraulic system 35 and tiltable bucket 52 all are secured to the device by remotely removable pins, permitting removal and replacement by remote means in this highly radio-active environment. A wide variety of fuel bundle configuration may be handled by this clamp table. Substantially any type of fuel rod end securing means, including tie plates, lifting bails, etc., may be removed to permit withdrawal of fuel rods from the bundle.

FUEL ROD PULLING ASSEMBLY be raised or lowered by means of a plurality of conventional scissors jacks 101, driven by a conventional drive system generally indicated at 104. This assembly is mounted on base 102, which may be supported by or be part of the floor of the room.

Mounted on platform 100 is a pair of guide rails 16 and 17. In this embodiment, guide rails 16 and 17 are cylindrical and support the pulling head carriage, generally designated 15, for axial movement. Guide rails 16 and 17 are mounted in parallel alignment on platform 100 by means of end mounts 106, 107, 108 and 109.

Carriage 15 which surrports rod pulling head 14 is mounted on guide rails 16 and 17 for movement along the guide rails by means of four tubular members 110, 111, 112 and 113 which closely surround the respective guide rails. Carriage 15 may be driven along guide rails 16 and 17 by any conventional drive. Typically, the drive may include an endless chain running below guide rail 16 from a drive sprocket adjacent support 108 to an idler sprocket adjacent 109. This chain is fastened to tubular members 112 and 113 so that carriage 15 moves as a drive means schematically shown at 103 moves the drive chain, which is hidden beneath guide rail 16 in FIG. 5. A similar, synchronized drive means may be used under guide rail 17 to help drive carriage 15, if desired. Any other suitable carriage drive means may be used, if desired. For example, a long screw drive, similar to drive screw 130, could be mounted parallel to guide rail 16 and/or 17.

The four tubular members 110, 111, 112 and 113 are rigidly tied together by axial tie plates 114 and 115 and transverse tie plates 116 and 117, as seen primarily in FIG. 5, with transverse tie plates 116 and 117 partially hidden.

Carriage 15 is also arranged to permit movement of rod pulling head 14 transverse to guide rails 16 and 17. This arrangement includes vertical supports 118, 119, 120 and 121 which hold transverse guide rails 112 and 123 in parallel alignment by means of end blocks 124, 125, 126 and 127. Carriage 15 includes tubular sleeves within housings 128 and 129 which surround transverse guide rails 122 and 123, respectively, and permit transverse sliding movement. Housings 128 and 129 and vertical supports 118 and 119 are enclosed by plates 136 for rigidity.

Pulling head 14 on carriage 15 is driven transversely of the table by means of screw 130 which is supported by bearing 131 at one end and by a drive means 132 at the other. A drive nut 133 is fastened to carriage 15 by plates 134 and 135 so that as screw 130 turns, pulling head 14 moves transversely across the table. Rod pulling head 14 is described in greater detail in FIGS. 7-9, below. Rod pulling head 14 is held on plate 135 by means of locking pins in locking means 138 which engage head support 139. Movable clamp actuators 140 engage clamp levers 141 to clamp fuel rod 142 (as seen in FIG. 6) during the pulling operation.

Automatically operating fuel rod supports 143 are provided to support the fuel rods without bending during the pulling operation. A plurality of these fuel rod supports 143 are located along a receiving table generally designated 18, although only one is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for clarity. Receiving table 18 includes a plurality of rollers 145 journaled loosely in edge slots in plates 146 which are mounted on platform 100. Fuel rod supports 143 consist of corrugated rollers which hold fuel rods during pulling while preventing excessive transverse slippage across the roller. The corrugated rollers are supported on generally L-shaped arms 147 which are rotatable about pivot 148 through the are shown by dashed line 149 in FIG. 6. The fuel rod support system is shown both in fuel rod pulling position (solid lines) and in rod transfer position (broken lines) in FIG. 6. Arms 147 are counterweighed to swing up into the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 6 when not restrained. To lower the arm to the position shovm at 147', an actuating cylinder 150, which may be an air or hydraulic system, moves a control bar 151 having an arcuate slot 152 engaging a pin 153 on the lower exten-' sion of arm 147 to the right as seen in FIG. 6. Control bar 151 has a cross-section resembling an inverted L, with slot 152 in the vertical face and the horizontal face riding on support roller means 154. As seen in FIG. 6,

when clamp lever 141 reaches fuel rod 142, actuating cylinder 150 moves control bar 151 to the right lowering roller 143 to the position shown at l43. The fuel rod is then transferred to holding table 19, as described below. Carriage 15 then moves to the left to engage another group of fuel rods. Control bar 151 ismoved to the left, allowing roller 143 and arm 147 to pivot upwardly under the influence of the counterweight. As carriage 15 moves to the right, pulling one or more fuel rods from the bundle, rod 155 below rod pulling head 14 engages rollers 143, pivoting arm 147 downwardly until carriage 15 has passed. While in general hidden parts are not indicated in the drawing, the location of rod 155 between vertical supports 118 and 119 behind vertical plate 136 is indicated by broken lines. Slot 152 allows pin 153 to move freely during this sequence of events.

After each rod or group of rods has been released by clamp lever 141 and lowered to rollers 145 by support rollers 143, they are transferred to a holding table generally designated 19. Fuel rods are accumulated on holding table 19 until the number which can be accepted by the shear assembly is reached.

Holding table 19, as seen in FIG. 5, includes a plurality of rollers 157 joumaled in frames 156 and 158. A plurality of rod transfer bars 159 are rigidly fastened to frames 156 and 158 and extend across receiving table 144. Holding table 19 and transfer bars 159 may be tilted around pivots beneath table 19 connected to support frame 161 which is secured to platform 100. As actuating cylinder 162 tilts table 19, transfer rods 159 rise, contact fuel rods on receiving table 144 and cause.

them to slide and roll over onto holding table 19. Frame 158 extends upwardly above rollers 157 and acts as a stop for fuel rods roiling onto holding table 19 and as a side guide during longitudinal movement of groups of fuel rods along rollers 157. A plurality of pivotable guides 163 are arranged above frame 156, ex-

tending above rollers 157. Guides 163 serve to guide fuel rods for longitudinal movement along rollers 157 during the rod feeding operations. These guides 163 are pivoted below table 19 so that they move down wardly when table 19 is tilted so as not to interfere with the transfer of fuel rods from receiving table 18 to holding table 19.

A rod pusher 20 is provided to push accumulated rods from holding table 19 to. the shear feed table when the desired number have accumulated. Rod pusher 20 is supported by frame 163 mounted on transverse guide rail 123 by means of guide rods 163. Since pusher 20 must move to the left with carriage 15 each time a group of fuel rods is pulled from the bundle, an actuating cylinder 166 is provided to lift pusher 20 out of engagement with fuel rods on holding table 19 until the desired number of fuel rods have accumulated on holding table 19. Guide rods are pivotably attached to pusher 20 and to frame 163. The attachment point to frame 163 is somewhat below actuating cylinder 166. Thus, as actuating cylinder 166 retracts, pusher 20 is lifted above table 19. Pusher 20 need only be lifted a few inches to clear fuel rods on table 19. When the desired number of fuel rods have accumulated, pusher 20 is lowered onto the table by actuating cylinder 166 so that all of the rods on holding table 19 are pushed to the left onto the shear feed table when carriage 15 next moves to the left.

tively, in FIG. 7. Pulling head 14 is mounted for movement with carriage 15 (as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6) on plates 135.

Integral with plates is a horizontal cylindrical housing 167. Closure plates 168 closes one end of housing 167. Closure plate 168 is held in position by conventional remotely removable ball-detent pins 169 through holes in housing 167 and mating holes in cylindrical flange 170 on the closure plate. Eyes 171 are provided on closure plate 168 to permit remote re moval of closure plate 168 after pins 169 have been removed.

Rod pulling head 14 is mounted on the other end of cylindrical housing 167 by means of a cylindrical flange 172 on heat support 139. Flange 172 has an external circumferential groove 173 (shown in part by broken line 174) into which retaining pins 175 are seated to retain head support 139 in axial position while permitting head support l39to be rotated about the axis of cylindrical housing 167. While only one pin 175 is shown for clarity, in practice a plurality of spaced retaining pins 175 are used. At various locations (typically every 45) around the circumference of flange 172 there are located holes 176 into which locking pins 138 may be inserted to prevent rotation of head support 139. Holes 176 have diameters less than the width of groove 173 to prevent retaining pins 175 from entering holes 176. Thus, the rod pulling head may be rotated at any time and locked in a desired position. Also, by merely withdrawing retaining pins 175 and locking pins 138, the entire rod pulling head may be removed for replacementor repair. This operation may easily be performed remotely with conventional remote manipulating devices. Pins 138 and 175 may be conventional camactuated withdrawable pins. Such pins have a shoulder which engages a rotatable cam surface. When the cam surface is rotates by means of a handle, such as shown at 138 in HO. 5. the pin is cammed up out of the opening. Returning the handle to the original position returns the pin to engaging position.

The rod pulling head includes head support 139, clamp actuator 140 and clamp levers 141. ln order to more fully indicate how the rod pulling head operates clamp actuator 140 is shown divided into two portions, with the upper portion showing the clamp open and the lower portion showing the clamp closed. Of course, clamp actuator 140 is actually a single solid piece and both the upper and lower clamps are opened and closed simultaneously. Clamp actuator 140 is shown divided on line 177, with pin 178 being actually a single piece. Clamp actuator 140 is moved axially by means of piston 179 in hydraulic cylinder 180 within cylindrical housing 167. Since hydraulic cylinder 180 is secured only to closure plate 168 by bolts 189, it can easily be removed for replacement or repair with closure plate 168 merely by withdrawing pin 178 and removing closure plate 168. Clamp actuator 140 is guided by rollers 181 (shown by broken lines in FIG. 7, with the clearest showing in FIG. 8) which ride on surface 182 of the head support 139. Clamp levers 141 are pivoted about pins 183 which are mounted in head support 139. At their rearward ends, clamp levers 141 have a 

1. Nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means capable of holding a nuclear fuel rod bundle in alignment with a nuclear fuel rod bundle disassembly means, said nuclear fuel rod bundle including fuel rod end securing means holding at least one nuclear fuel rod in said nuclear fuel bundle, said nuclear fuel rod bundle handling means comprising a. a plurality of rollers in a horizontal parallel array adapted to support a fuel bundle; b. a fixed clamp member extending upwardly along a first side of said roller array; c. a movable clamp member substantially parallel to said fixed clamp member extending upwardly along a second side of said roller array and mounted for movement toward and away from said fixed clamp member, adapted to clamp a fuel bundle therebetween; d. means to move said movable clamp member toward and away from said fixed clamp member; and e. means to remove said fuel rod end securing means from at least one end of a fuel bundle positioned on said roller array.
 2. The fuel rod bundle handling means of claim 1 further including a pivoted bucket means located adjacent one end of said roller array, adapted to support one end of a fuel bundle as it is tilted and lowered onto said roller array.
 3. The fuel rod bundle handling means of claim 1 further including hoods to enclose the ends of fuel bundles during removal of said fuel rod end securing means from said bundle, said hoods further containing abrasive saw means to sever bundle ends as necessary. 